Tuesday 31 July 2012

Mils take Game 1!

     

    An exceptional pitching performance by pitcher Jon Mark Abbey (pictured above) helped the Melville Millionaires to a 6-0 Game 1 victory over the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
        Abbey scattered 5 hits over 7 shutout innings while striking out 9 batters. The Melville Millionaires bats were alive and well as they pounded out 14 hits. Leading the way was their lead-off hitter and Abbotsford, BC native Sebastian Wong who went 4-5 at the plate with 3 singles and a double also drove in 1 and scored 2. Third baseman Garrett Kilgore was also hot at the plate with 2 singles and a sacrafice fly while driving in 3 runs.
         Game 2 goes Wednesday night back at the friendly confines of Pirie Field at 7:05. The Mils will go with right-hander Ryan Talley as their Game 2 starter.

JON MARK ABBEY- GAME 1 POST GAME
     
    
    

MILS COACH BRIC STEED- POST GAME COMMENTS

Playoff preview with Mils Coach Bric Steed

Monday 30 July 2012

WMBL Playoff Preview- Melville Millionaires (2nd) vs Moose Jaw Miller Express (3rd)


Melville Millionaires- 2nd in East Division (24-22)



Players to Watch:
#3 Campbell Cooper (1st Base)- .317  2HR  34 RBI 1 SB
#26 Chris Burke (2nd Base)- ..329 4 HR  29 RBI 12 SB
#10 Sebastian Wong (Left Fielder)- .311  0 HR 16 RBI 15 SB  25 BB
#23 Nathan Kirby- 3.33 ERA  4-2 record  48.2 IP 36 K's 17 BB 2 SVs
#21 Allen Rimer- 3.38 ERA 5-2 record 53.1 IP 46 K's 12 BB 3 CG

Moose Jaw Miller Express- 2nd in Central Divison (21-25)
                                 






Players to Watch:
#29 Mike Corso- .373  13HR  43 RBI 10BB
#32 Josh Carroll- .264  9HR  32 RBI  20BB
#16 Kevin Gratza- .301  5HR  18 RBI  12BB
#12 Terry McNabb- 4-2 record 67.2 IP  52 K's 11BB 4CG
#6 Dustin Caplette- 3-1 record  36.2 IP  26 K's 6BB

Match-Up           
 The Melville Millionaires and the Moose Jaw Miller Express will meet in one of two East-divison Semi-Finals as the Moose Jaw Miller Express cross over from the Central Division. The two teams met 4 times during the 2012 regular season and the Millionaires came out on the winning side 3 times. This East division Semi-final matches up two of the WMBL's most potent offences but the Mils were dealt a major blow when 1st baseman and 2nd year Millionaire John Clark who was the team leader in Home Runs and Runs Batted In, but was forced to go home because of injury. Melville also lost Shortstop AJ Florence and Pitcher Cameron Cox who had to go because of college commitments. But the Mils still do have lots of pop in their line-up with the likes of the red hot Campbell Cooper who has been the team's most consistent hitters through out the season and 2nd baseman Chris Burk who has quietly put together a pretty good overall season at the plate and on the defensive side.
              On the other hand, the Moose Jaw Miller Express boast two of the top power hitters in the league with Mike Corso (13 Home Runs) and Josh Carroll (9 Home Runs) who can break open a ball game with one swing of the bat.
              Despite the offensive ability from both teams both teams can also handle themselves on the defensive/pitching side of things as well, so it should be an interesting series with two teams that are pretty much even as you can get.

Game 1: Tuesday, July 31 @ MEL (7:05PM) Pirie Field
Game 2: Wednesday, August 1 @ MEL (7:05PM) Pirie Field
Game 3: Thursday, August 2 @ MJ (7:05PM)
Game 4: Friday, August 3 @ MJ (7:05PM) *
Game 5: Saturday, August 4 @ MEL (7:05PM) * Pirie Field

* If necessary.

For More on the other series in the WMBL Playoffs, check out WMBL
             
    



Monday 23 July 2012

Cooper helps get Mils Crucial victory, Cardinals fall to Saskatoon

          

   Millionaire first baseman and Coppell, Texas native Campbell Cooper broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning 2-run homerun and that was enough as the Millionaires improved their record to 22 and 19 after a 6-5 victory over the Weyburn Beavers at Pirie Field.
           B.C native Nathan Kirby got the win improving his record to 4-2 on the season. The win pushes the Mils lead for 2nd place in the East Division 4.5 games ahead of the Beavers.
            The Mils return to the diamond on Wednesday night when they visit the Swift Current Indians, before going on their Alberta road swing through Lethbridge and Okotoks starting on the weekend.
*****
           Elsewhere, the Yorkton Cardinals fell at home to the Saskatoon Yellow Jackets 7-6. Cardinals pitcher Travis Donahoo took the loss on the mound scattering 7 hits and 6 runs over 6 1/3 innings while striking out a season high 10 Saskatoon batters.
            Tyler Arthur led the way at the plate for the Cardinals going 2-4 and a RBI. Ian Horne and Andrew Tindell also had two hits apiece for the Cards, who with the loss record drops to 13-30 on the season.
           The Cards are back in action Tuesday night when they travel to Regina to take on the 1st place and league leading Regina Red Sox at 7:05 Currie Field.
       

Thursday 5 July 2012

CFL Week 2 Picks


Joining you throughout the season to share his view on the CFL with his weekly picks our guest blogger Adrian DeCorby (avid football fan, and self proclaimed ‘expert’) puts his reputation on the line with bold predictions against the spread week to week.  

WPG @ MTL  

Both of the two top running teams from the East in 2011, come into this battle after suffering rather embarrassing losses in Week 1.  Winnipeg comes in still down their top two running backs, and with Buck Pierce nursing ANOTHER injury in only the second week of the season.  He will likely make a go of it on Friday night.  However, we are only one hit away from seeing Alex Brink.  With a more inexperienced WR group this season, none of that looks good for the Bombers.  The Alouettes started slow in Calgary last week.  Anthony Calvillo didn’t hit his groove soon enough, the defense looked like it was still adjusting to new personnel, and they showed a lack of discipline that a Marc Trestman team just doesn’t do.  They WILL be better this week, and in their home opener their fans will leave this one happy.  As my pick for the lock of the week:
PICK MTL -6.5

HAM @ B.C.

B.C started 2012 just as they finished 2011: hot, Hot, HOT.  They are still undefeated at the newly renovated B.C. Place Stadium.  Travis Lulay looks to be in midseason form already, and with so many familiar weapons on offense the Lions should remain the class of the league for the entire season.  Hamilton defense was offensive in week one vs Saskatchewan, especially in the secondary.  Coming up against the defending league MOP and a veteran-laden receiving core they will continue to struggle again this week.  In order to have any success Henry Burris is going to have to find a WR other than Chris Williams to come up with big catches this year (no pressure Andy).  Prediction Hamilton will be better on offense this week by putting up some points, keeping it closer than expected for most of the game.  In the end, B.C. is too talented and too deep at all positions, and still riding the Grey Cup high:
PICK B.C. -6.5

CGY @ TOR

After week one, these two squads surprised me the most.  Calgary looked more polished and complete than expected and pounced early and often against Montreal.  Toronto looked lost and unprepared in the ugliest game of the week in Edmonton.  I am looking for both teams to perform more predictably this week.  Calgary has struggled in recent years on the road, especially in the East.  Jon Cornish looks prepared to RUN away with the Most Outstanding Canadian award this season, and he shouldn’t miss a beat this week with likely a 100yd rushing game on the way Saturday night.  Drew Tate looked brilliant last week, but is known for forcing too many passes into tight coverages. If he can avoid turnovers Calgary will win in a route.  However, I don’t think he will.  Toronto’s rookie Head Coach Scott Milanovich was embarrassed by their lack of polish and preparation in the opening week matchup vs the Eskimos.  With veteran DC Mike O’Shea on staff I don’t see this being a problem two weeks in a row.  Ricky Ray is at his best with a strong playaction pass game, so look for Cory Boyd to be fed the rock early and often at Rogers Centre, then O’Shea’s defense will take over.   Look for an upset in this low scoring affair, with Toronto at work keeping it close:
TOR +4.5

EDM @ SSK

Week one results has given us a battle of 1-0 teams to end the week, which is far from what most experts predicted going in to 2012.  Saskatchewan started slowly on the scoreboard, but never struggled to move the ball against a young Tiger-Cats defense.  Weston Dressler was the main offensive catalyst for the Riders, whom also had a pleasant surprise in rookie RB Kory Sheets.  Sheets gives Saskatchewan their most dynamic back since the Kenton Keith days and gives Darian Durant more room to roll out of the pocket with the defense having to respect another threat in the backfield.  Speaking of Durant, he looked a lot more like the 2009-10 version of himself than the 2011 disaster in week one, if that continues look for the offense to go as he goes.  On the other side of the ball, Steven Jyles, a former teammate of Durant, gets a chance to beat his former team for a third straight time.  Jyles was effective but not spectacular in week one, and will need to use his mobility to his benefit for the Eskimos to move the ball on an improved Roughrider defense.  Roughriders defensive backs struggled to contain Chris Williams last week and will need to be much improved to keep Adarius Bowman and Fred Stamps in check on Sunday.  After some juggling around with personnel in practice this week, Corey Chamblin is still looking for the best five man group in the secondary, his success in this area will be a key factor in this game.   Prediction: the Riders will not move the ball as well against a faster and better Edmonton defense but will do enough to get ahead.  While ahead, Jyles will see too much of Odell Willis, Brent Hawkins, and Keith Shologan, which will cause turnovers for Saskatchewan.  Behind a strong home biased crowd, Kory Sheets and the offense will put the game away on the ground in the 4th quarter.

PICK SSK -4.5


That's all for this week, see you all again next week.  Good luck & good football!!


DeCorbs

Steve Nash is going Hollywood

          Steve Nash won't be coming back home to Canada afterall. The two-time NBA MVP has agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with Los Angeles Lakers that would see the Phoenix Suns receive 4 future draft picks including first rounders in 2013 and 2015 and 2nd round picks in 2013 and 2014.

          The 38 year old Nash, a native of Victori, British Columbia signed a 3-year deal with the Lakers, valued at around 27-million dollars. Nash spent the last 8 seasons with Phoenix

          Although many Canadian basketball fans might be a little disappointed and upset that Nash didn't sign with our country's NBA team, you got to respect the reasoning of wanting to be closer to his children and family. The man wants to go to a place where he will have the best chance to win that ever elusive first NBA title and with joining the likes of Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and at least for right now Pau Gasol, and like many other Canadians it's always nice to see a Canadian win a title
          Nash, who is the GM of the Canadian Men's National Basketball team is an 8-time All Star and will be entering is 17th season in the NBA.
          



Wednesday 4 July 2012

Burk is the Hero!

           2nd baseman and Gig Harbour, Washington native Chris Burk played the role of hero when he ripped a walk-off single into right field and pinch runner Ryan Talley came around from 2nd to score the winning run in the bottom of 11th inning to give the Melville Millionaires (17-11) a 5-4 victory over the Central division leading Moose Jaw Miller Express (11-13).
           Burk also singled earlier in the ball game and ended up 2 RBIs while 3rd baseman Garret Kilgore had two hits and an rbi for the Millionaires.
           Dallas, Texas Native Cameron Cox got the start on the bump for the Millionaires going 6 innings, scattering 6 hits, walking 1 and striking out a season high 9 batters in his first start as a Millionaire.
            Nathan Kirby from Vancouver B.C came into the ball game in the 7th pitching 2 and two thirds innings allowing 1 hit and striking out 3.
            Big lefty Zach Hobbs improved his record on the season to 1-1, pitching 2 and a third innings allowing 1 hit and striking out two.
 
            The Millionaires travel to Regina tomorrow to take on the league leading Red Sox before returning to the friendly confines of Pirie Field on Friday night when they play host to the Swift Current Indians. First pitch is 7:05

Elsewhere,

        The Yorkton Cardinals only recorded 4 hits but that was enough as they snapped a lengthy losing streak by the beating the best team in the WMBL, the Regina Red Sox 4-3 at Currie Field.
       Jamie Whitehead ran his record on the season to 1-3, scattering 8 hits over 5 innings striking out one and walking none.

         
       







Severson is a Devil


Local Product and Kelowna Rockets Defenceman Damon Severson was selected in the 2nd round, 60th overall to the New Jersey Devils.

The 17 year old Melville products will be entering his 3rd season with the WHL's Kelowna Rockets.

In his WHL career, Severson has played in 125 games recording 11 goals,  43 assists and 54 points. He also has had 133 penalty minutes and a +12 plus/minus rating.






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